By Norm Miller, LC communications
Vincent Smith is a lot of things: husband, father, pastor, church planter, college grad, seminary student, counselor, and confidant.
Certain aspects of all those roles equip Smith for his service to Louisiana College; he is dean of students.
Smith defines this function as one who is an “integrator of relational activity that flows into student discipline, an administrator who helps connect students to success in the classroom.”
This is not bureaucratic psychobabble. It is who Smith is. He relates to and reaches students right where they are.
“Sometimes I function as a big brother, and others times I’m a father figure,” Smith said. “Discipline comes easier when I have such a relationship with students that they know I care, even if I have to be the ‘bad guy.’ I do care about our students, but I also have a backbone.”
Smith said he is “okay with being the bad guy. I realize that not everyone is going to like me. But I am called to more than just tough love. My role is about honesty.” That includes telling students about behaviors that will harm them.
Athletes expect you to talk about sports, and Christian Studies majors expect you to talk about theology, Smith said. “But I’m … [Read more...]

A lot of people yesterday had a New Year’s lunch of black eyed peas and cabbage or greens. Though origins of these traditions are varied, the common reason is tied to good luck, health, and financial prosperity. One tradition is that the Union troops left the black eyed peas in their victory march South believing the crops only for animal consumption. Folks in the South considered this to be good luck that they had such good food to eat after the war.
John in writing to his friend Gaius shared his prayer blessing. I think it is a good prayer to pray over our friends as we begin this New Year.
"Dear friend, I pray that you may prosper in every way and be in good health physically just as you are spiritually. 3 For I was very glad when some brothers came and testified to your faithfulness to the truth—how you are walking in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are walking in the truth." (3 John 2-4)
A Good Prayer
Here’s how we can pray for our friends.
-- That you will prosper in every way.
The abuse of the so-called “prosperity preachers” have perhaps made us timid to pray for God’s favor over our lives. But here is how I understand the difference in what they do and what we … [Read more...]

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Editorial

By Waylon Bailey
The Apostle James prepared the people of his day and all those believers who have followed after to resist the devil and to live for God in a culture that opposes God. He gave amazing advice which fits any people at any time (James 4:7-10).
"So humble yourselves before God. Resist the Devil, … Continue Reading.